USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1948 > Part 4
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Article 4. On motion of Harold Putnam it was voted that the sum of Two Hundred and Sixty-five Thousand and Seventy-five ($265,075.00) Dollars be raised and appropriated for the Board of Public Works as follows:
Salaries for Administration
Expenses for Administration
$ 6,350.00 875.00
Salaries for Construction & Maintenance of Highways
40,600.00
Expenses for Repairs, Construction, and Maintenance of
Highways, setting curbs, purchase or otherwise ac- quiring land for sand and gravel purposes, purchase of materials, tools and equipment and other inci- dental expenses pertaining thereto 29,250.00
Salaries for Removal of Snow and Ice
25,000.00
Expenses for Removal of Snow and Ice
20,000.00
Salaries for Construction and Maintenance of Sidewalks 9,700.00 Expenses for Construction and Maintenance of Sidewalks 3,100.00 Salaries for Construction of Storm Drains 8,150.00
Expenses for Construction of Storm Drains
5,200.00
Salaries for Maintenance of Storm Drains
3,300.00
Expenses for Maintenance of Storm Drains
2,800.00
Salaries for Maintenance of Dumps
2,700.00
Expenses for Maintenance of Dumps
200.00
Salaries for Maintenance of Park Department and Com- mon and Supervised Play
6,800.00
Expenses for Maintenance of Park Department and Com- mons and Supervised Play
2,750.00
Salaries for Maintenance, Operation and Extension of the Sewer System
8,200.00
Expenses for Maintenance, Operation and Extension of
the Sewer System, payment of Interest on Sewer
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Bonds
9,400.00
Salaries for Connecting Estates with the Common Sewer Expenses for Connecting Estates with the Common Sewer Drinking Fountains
8,100.00 2,500.00
100.00
Salaries for Construction, Maintenance and Operation of Water Works 33,000.00
Expenses for Construction, Maintenance and Operation of Water Works, payment of Water Bonds and Interest, including travel outside the State
37,000.00
$265,075.00
Article 4. On motion of Phillip R. White it was voted that the sum of Twenty-two Thousand Five Hundred and Sixty-nine Dollars ($22,569.00) be raised and appropriated for the Contributory Retirement
System to be divided as follows:
Pension Accumulation Fund
$ 21,569.00
Expense Fund
1,000.00
$ 22,569.00
Article 4. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the sum of One Thousand One Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($1,150.00) be raised and appropriated for Memorial Day Observance, to be expended under the direction of Post 62, American Legion, and Post 685, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Article 4. On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that the sum of Two Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty Dollars ($2,680.00) be raised and appropriated for Interest, not including Water, Light and Sewer.
Article 4. On motion of Joseph H. Reed it was voted that there be included in the tax levy, for electricity used for street lights, the sum of Sixteen Thousand ($16,500) ) and Five Hundred Dollars, and that said sum and the income from sales of electricity to private consumers and for electricity supplied to municipal buildings, and for municipal pow- er, and from sales of appliances and jobbing during the current fiscal year be appropriated for the Municipal Light Plant, and that the sum of Twelve Thousand Dollars ($12,000.00) be appropriated from the said receipts of the department for the sale, installation and servicing of merchandise, equipment, utensils and chattels, as provided in Section 34 of Chapter 164 of the General Laws, said appropriations to be ex- pended by the Manager of the Municipal Lighting, under the direction and control of the Municipal Light Board, for the expense of the plant, including payments of Bonds and Notes, the sale, installation and
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servicing of merchandise, equipment, utensils and chattels, as defined in Chapter 164 of the General Laws, or any amendments thereof or addi- tion thereto, and that if said sum of $16,500 and such income shall ex- ceed said expense for said fiscal year, such excess up to the sum of Fifty-four thousand and no cents ($54,000.00) shall be paid into the Town Treasury, and the balance, if any, shall be transferred to the Construction Fund of said Plant and appropriated and used for such additions thereto as may thereafter be authorized by the Municipal Light Board.
Article 4. On motion of G. Lawrence Roberts it was voted that the sum of Fourteen Thousand Dollars ($14,000.00) be raised and appropri- ated for Maturing Debt, not including Water and Light.
Article 4. On motion of G. Lawrence Roberts it was voted that the sum of Sixteen Thousand Dollars ($16,000.00) be raised and appropri- ated for Insurance.
Article 4. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the sum of One Thousand One Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($1,150.00) be raised and appropriated for the preparation and printing of the Street Lists for the year 1948, such sum to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen.
Article 4. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the sum of One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($1,850.00) be raised and appropriated for printing the Town Report for the year 1947.
Article 4. On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($150.00) be raised and appro- priated for the Maintenance and Lighting of the Old South Clock.
Article 4. On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that the sum of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) be raised and appropriated for the settlement of Damage Claims against the Town.
Article 4. On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that the sum of Four Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($450.00) be raised and ap- propriated for the Maintenance of the Parking Area.
On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson Article 4 was laid on the table.
Article 5. On motion of Kenneth C. Latham it was voted that the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and he hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1949, and to issue note or notes therefor payable within one year and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accord- ance with Section 17 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
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Article 6. On motion of G. Lawrence Roberts it was voted that the sum of Two Hundred and Seventy-five Dollars ($275.00) be raised and appropriated for the purpose of foreclosing in the Land Court pursuant to provisions of Section 65 of Chapter 60 of the General Laws, the right of redemption of any and all real estate taken by the Town for non- payment of taxes.
Article 7. On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that Article 7 be laid on the table.
Article 8. On motion of G. Lawrence Roberts it was voted that the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) be raised and appropriated for the care of graves of any persons who have served in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United States in time of war or insurrection and who have been honorably discharged from such service, as provided by Sec- tion 22, Chapter 115, General Laws.
Article 9. On motion of Fred L. Nutter it was voted that the sum of Fifteen Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) be appropriated from the Ceme- tery Reserve Fund receipts from the sale of lots and graves in Laurel Hill Cemetery and Forest Glen Cemetery for maintenance, care, im- provement and embellishment of said cemeteries, under the provisions of Section 15 of Chapter 114 of the General Laws.
Article 10. Upon motion of Fred L. Nutter it was voted that the Board of Selectmen be and they hereby are authorized and empowered to sell to the Old South Methodist Church or its nominee, upon such terms and conditions as they may determine, a strip of land situated in Laurel Hill Cemetery containing by estimation 712 square feet of land and hereinafter described as follows:
Beginning at a stone bound at the most Southeasterly corner thereof at land of the Old South Methodist Church and the Town; thence Westerly 5 feet more or less to a corner at other land retained by the Town; thence turning and running in a general Northerly direction by said other land of the Town 58.20 feet more or less to a corner; thence turning and running Easterly by land of the Town 83.29 feet more or less to a corner; thence turning and running Southerly 3 feet more or less to a corner; thence turning and running Easterly 15 feet more or less to other land of the Old South Methodist Church; thence turning and running Southerly 2 feet to a stone bound; thence turning and running Westerly by land of the Church 93.29 feet to a stone bound; thence turn- ing and running Southerly 53.20 feet to a stone bound and the point of beginning.
Article 11. On motion of Samuel H. Davis it was voted that Article 11 be laid on the table.
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Article 12. On motion of Samuel H. Davis it was voted that the Plumbing Regulations of the By-laws for the construction of buildings be and the same hereby is amended by inserting in Division No. 19 after Section 1 thereof the following new Section to be designated as Section 1-A:
Section 1-A. The following fees shall be paid by the applicant on receipt of permit:
For permit for each new house, not exceeding six fixtures $2.00
For remodelling not exceeding six additional fixtures 1.00
For each fixture in excess of six .25
For installation of single fixture .50
The Board of Health shall endorse upon the back of the application the amount to be charged for the permit.
The Inspector shall pay this amount to the Town Treasurer who will give the Inspector a receipt for same.
Article 13. On motion of A. Lloyd David it was voted that a com- mittee be and hereby is established to make a study of the Manager Form of Town Government, so called, said committee to consist of one registered voter residing in each of the four precincts to be chosen by ballot by the town meeting members from the respective precincts to- gether with one registered voter from the town to be chosen by the moderator; that said committee be chosen as promptly as practicable after authorization by the town meeting and it is hereby instructed to report its findings with recommendations to a special town meeting to be held not later than December 31, 1948; and that the sum of One Hun- dred Dollars ($100) be and hereby is raised and appropriated for the use of said committee.
Article 14. Clement Gleason moved that Section 85 E of Chapter 32 of the General Laws, being a law relating to the retirement of permanent members of the Police and Fire Departments of the Town be and the same hereby is accepted.
The motion was defeated.
On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted to adjourn until Monday, March 29 at 8 o'clock. Adjourned at 10:25 P. M.
173 Town Meeting Members were present.
A true record. Attest:
GUY W. ELLISON
Town Clerk
49
TOWN WARRANT
(Seal)
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Middlesex, ss.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Reading, Greeting:
In the name of the Commonwealth you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Reading qualified to vote in elections and town affairs to meet in Security Hall, Woburn Street, in said Reading on Monday, The Twenty-ninth Day of March, 1948 at seven forty-five o'clock in the evening, to act on the following articles:
Article 1. To hear and act on the reports of Town officers and special committees and determine what instructions will be given Town officers and special committees.
Article 2. To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds for the Reserve Fund under authority of Section 6 of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, or what it will do in relation thereto. Finance Committee
Article 3. To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate to pay into the Teachers' Retirement System for the benefit of teachers on military leave of absence during the year 1947, as provided for and under authority of Chapter 419 of the Acts of 1943, or what it will do in relation thereto. School Committee
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to further amend Section 2A of Article I of the By-laws of the Town by making the Town Treasurer a Town Meeting member at large, so when amended said Section shall read as follows:
Section 2A. Any representative Town meeting held under the pro- visions of Chapter 7, of the Acts of 1943, shall be limited to the voters elected under Section 3 thereof, together with the following designated as Town Meeting members at large; namely, any member of the General Court of the Commonwealth, from the Town, the Moderator, the Town Clerk, the Members of the Board of Selectmen, the Chairman of the School Committee, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, the Chair- man of the Board of Public Works, the Chairman of the Municipal Light Board, the Chairman of the Board of Public Welfare, the Chairman of Trustees of the Public Library, the Chairman of Board of Assessors, the Chairman of the Planning Board, the Chairman of the Board of
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Cemetery Trustees, the Chairman of the Board of Health, the Town Accountant, the Town Counsel and the Town Treasurer.
Charles W. H. Smith and others
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting an attested copy thereof in at least three public places in each precinct of the Town, not less than seven days prior to March 29, 1948, the date set for the meeting in said Warrant, and to publish this Warrant in the Reading Chronicle, one day at least prior to said date.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at or before the time appointed for said meeting.
Given under our hands this eighteenth day of March, 1948.
CHAS. E. WILKINSON KENNETH C. LATHAM Selectmen of Reading
Officer's Return
Middlesex, ss.
Reading, March 26, 1948
By virtue of the within warrant, I, on March 20th, 1948, notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Reading, qualified to vote in town affairs to meet in the place and at the time specified, by posting an attested copy thereof in each of the following places within said Town of Reading:
Precinct 1. Austin's Lunch Room, 17 Harnden St .; Danforth Phar- macy, 1 Harnden St .; Central Fire Station.
Precinct 2. Masonic Temple Building; Lyceum Hall Building; M. F. Charles and Sons Store, 610 Main St .; Boston and Maine R.R. Depot; Odd Fellows Building.
Precinct 3. Waterhouse's Neighborhood Store, 36 Mineral St .; Ben- ny's Neighborhood Store, 168 Lowell St .; Fire Station Engine 2.
Precinct 4. Municipal Building; Zitzow's Neighborhood Store, 287 Lowell St .; Mclaughlin's Neighborhood Store, 1051 Main St.
The date of posting being more than seven days prior to the date set for the meeting in this warrant. I also caused an attested copy of this warrant to be published in the Reading Chronicle, in the issue of March 25th, 1948, the same being more than one day prior to the date of the meeting.
LEON G. BENT,
Constable of Reading
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
March 29, 1948
Security Hall
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator at 7:50 P.M.
The warrant was partially read by the Town Clerk, when on motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted to dispense with further reading of the warrant, except the Constable's Return, which was then read by the Town Clerk.
Article 1. On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that Article 1 be laid on the table.
Article 2. On motion of Louis Davis it was voted that the sum of Fifteen Thousand ($15,000) Dollars be appropriated by transferring said sum from the Overlay Surplus Account to the Reserve Fund provided for under Section 6 of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, and the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized and empowered to transfer said sum to said Fund.
Article 3. On motion of Alexander P. Glover it was voted that the sum of One Hundred and Twenty (120) Dollars be raised and appro- priated to pay into the Teachers' Retirement System for the benefit of teachers on military leave of absence during the year 1947 as provided for and under authority of Chapter 419 of the Acts of 1943.
Article 4. On motion of Charles W. H. Smith it was voted that Section 2A of Article 1 of the By-laws of the Town be and the same hereby is further amended by making the Town Treasurer a Town Meeting member at large, so when amended said Section shall read as follows:
Section 2A. Any representative Town meeting held under the pro- visions of Chapter 7 of the Acts of 1943, shall be limited to the voters elected under Section 3 thereof, together with the following designated as Town Meeting members at large; namely, any member of the General Court of the Commonwealth, from the Town, the Moderator, the Town Clerk, the members of the Board of Selectmen, the Chairman of the School Committee, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, the Chair- man of the Board of Public Works, the Chairman of the Municipal Light Board, the Chairman of the Board of Public Welfare, the Chairman of Trustees of the Public Library, the Chairman of Board of Assessors, the Chairman of the Planning Board, the Chairman of the Board of Cemetery Trustees, the Chairman of the Board of Health, the Town Accountant, the Town Counsel and the Town Treasurer.
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Article 1. On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that Article 1 be taken from the table.
On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that Article 1 be indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted to adjourn, Sine Die.
Adjourned 8:05 P.M.
Attest:
GUY W. ELLISON Town Clerk
ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Security Hall
March 29, 1948
The fact that this meeting was an adjourned session of the March 15th meeting no notice was required by the Town Clerk.
On motion of Samuel H. Davis it was voted to take Article 11 from the table.
Article 11. Samuel H. Davis moved that the Board of Health be and they hereby are authorized and empowered to enter into a contract for the collection and disposal of garbage for a term of three years and upon such other and further terms and conditions as they may determine and that the sum of Sixty-five Hundred (6500) Dollars be raised and ap- propriated therefor covering the year 1948.
On motion of Thomas Prentiss an amendment was proposed that the motion on Article 11 be amended by inserting the following, after the words, "as they may determine" the words, "by advertising for proposals in the Reading Chronicle and one Boston paper for two consecutive weeks, the last publication to be at least one week before the time specified for the opening of said proposals. Such advertise- ments shall state the time and place and specifications of the proposed contract. All such proposals shall be opened in public." So that the motion will read as follows: Moved that the Board of Health be and they hereby are authorized and empowered to enter into a contract for the collection and disposal of garbage, for a term of three years, and upon such other and further terms and conditions as they may deter- mine, by advertising for proposals in the Reading Chronicle and one
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Boston paper for two consecutive weeks, the last publication to be at least one week before the time specified for the opening of said propo- sals. Such advertisements shall state the time and place and specifica- tions of the proposed contracts. All such proposals shall be opened in public, and that the sum of Sixty-five Hundred (6500) Dollars be raised and appropriated therefor covering the period of the year 1948.
The amendment was defeated.
The original motion by Mr. Davis carried.
Article 3. On motion of John L. Devaney it was voted to take Article 3 from the table.
On motion of John L. Devaney it was voted that the Selectmen be and are hereby authorized and requested to take such action as may be necessary to arrange printing and distributing the Annual Town Report to Town Meeting Members not later than ten days before the Annual town meeting.
On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that Article 3 be laid on the table.
Article 7. Charles E. Wilkinson moved, and it was voted, that Article 7 be taken from the table.
On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted that a sum not ex- ceeding Five Hundred (500) Dollars be transferred from General High- way appropriation and a sum not exceeding One Thousand (1000) Dol- lars be transferred from Surplus Revenue and appropriated for the main- tenance of various streets previously constructed under Chapter 90, Gen- eral Laws; and that a further sum of Fifteen Thousand (15,000) Dollars be transferred from Surplus Revenue and appropriated for the construc- tion under Chapter 90, General Laws, of a portion of Lowell Street, provided however, that such sums received as reimbursements from the State and County shall be credited to Surplus Revenue and that the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said sums to said accounts to carry out the purpose of this vote.
Article 15. Alexander P. Glover moved that the sum of Seven Hundred Ninety Thousand (790,000) Dollars be raised and appropriated for the purpose of constructing an elementary school building to be erected on land now owned by the Town at the Southwesterly corner of Oak and Summer Avenue, and for originally equipping and furnishing the said building; and to meet said appropriation the sum of One Hundred Sixty Thousand Six Hundred Thirty-nine and 75/100 (160,639.75) Dollars be appropriated by transferring said sum from available funds in the Surplus Revenue Account, the sum of Four Thousand Three Hundred Sixty and 25/100 (4360.25) Dollars be appropriated by trans-
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ferring said sum from the Proceeds of Sale of Real Estate Fund, and the sum of One Hundred Twenty-five Thousand (125,000) Dollars be ap- propriated from the Post War Rehabilitation Fund, and the Town Ac- countant be and he hereby is authorized and empowered to transfer said sums to carry out the purpose of this vote, and that the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow the sum of Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) Dollars and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor, payable in accordance with pro- visions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than twenty years from the date of issue of the first bond or note, or at such earlier time as the Treasurer and the Selectmen may determine and said bonds or notes shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Selectmen, and the School Committe are hereby authorizd to proceed with the construction of said building and to enter into all contracts and agreements in respect thereto and to do all other acts and things necessary and proper for carrying out the provisions of this vote.
An amendment by Elbridge Lucas to appoint a special committee to supervise the building of the school was defeated.
As this was a bond issue a standing vote was required and when taken, the original motion was carried by a vote of 141 in favor to 10 opposed.
Article 16. On motion of Alexander P. Glover it was voted that the sum of Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred (13,500) Dollars be raised and appropriated for the transportation of school children for the year 1948.
Article 17. On motion of Alexander P. Glover it was voted that Article 17 be indefinitely postponed.
Article 18. On motion of Harold Putnam it was voted that the sum of Thirty-three Thousand Six Hundred (33,600) Dollars be raised and appropriated by transferring Twenty Thousand (20,000) Dollars of said sum from the Road Machinery Fund to the Road Machinery Operating Account and the remaining sum of Thirteen Thousand Six Hundred (13,600) Dollars be raised from the Tax Levy and that the total sum of Thirty-three Thousand Six Hundred (33,600) Dollars be appropriated for the maintenance, repair and operation of road machinery and for the purchase by the Board of Public Works of one large tractor, two small tractors, two small dump trucks and one pick up truck and that the proceeds received from the old equipment not exceeding Two Thou- sand Five Hundred Dollars shall be appropriated in addition to the above mentioned sum of Thirty-three Thousand Six Hundred (33,600) Dollars as part of the purchase price for the above mentioned equip-
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ment, and that the Town Accountant be and he hereby is authorized and instructed to transfer said amount to carry out the purpose of this vote.
Article 19. On motion of Harold Putnam it was voted that the sum of Five Thousand ($5,000.00) Dollars be raised and appropriated for the purpose of improving and constructing a portion of Lowell Street from near Middlesex Avenue southeasterly toward Reading Square together with such sums as may be provided by the State and County under Section 34, Chapter 90 of the General Laws.
On motion of Charles E. Wilkinson it was voted to adjourn and meet in Security Hall on Monday, April 15, 1948 at 7:45 P.M.
Adjourned at 10:15 P.M. A true record. Attest:
Attendance 162.
GUY W. ELLISON, Town Clerk
ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Security Hall
April 5, 1948
In the absence of the Moderator, the Town Clerk, Guy W. Ellison called the meeting to order at 8 o'clock and asked for nominations for a moderator to act at this meeting.
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